I spent 3 years studying theology in NYC and at Oxford. I had been planning to teach theology — in my family tradition. My studies revealed shocking information about the origins and histories of our three major Western religions which diverted me to teaching philosophy instead.

The ancient view of G-d was that he was quite literally commander-in-chief in fighting wars. If a war was lost, the Hebrew prophets proposed that G-d was punishing his people for their misdeeds.

The most tolerant of the three religions was Islam. The most brutal was Christianity. The Jews were the targets of both with far too many pogroms over the millennia, thanks to the anti-Semitism of St. Paul (See his Letter to the Romans for that attitude as well as murderous anti-gay sentiments).

While all three of the religions had good things to say about the care and treatment of fellow humans, war was very much part of a tribal game — the Crusades and such and the murderous wars both between the religions and within them. Those Christian soldiers particularly always marching off to war. Something very Roman was embedded in the Christian world view which was all too readily unleashed with sometimes the weakest of excuses — the whole colonial expansion of the Europeans round the world with killings freely justified to secure booty.

I was warned off theology by my leading theological teachers such as Reinhold Niebuhr who foresaw the Billy Graham to Sarah Palin evolution at its roots.

It is ironic that right wing Christians are supporting the Israeli ‘recapture’ of Israel in that they believe Jews who do not convert to Christianity when the Christ figure returns will be condemned to hell.

Christianity is a religion of death as well as love of neighbor. Jesus was crucified as a ‘terrorist’ of his own times.

And so it goes.
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“A war is just if there is no alternative, and the resort to arms is legitimate if they represent your last hope.” (Livy cited by Machiavelli)
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Ed Kent 212-665-8535 (voice mail only) [blind copies]

5 users commented in " G-d as Commander-in-Chief? "

It is ironic that right wing Christians are supporting the Israeli ‘recapture’ of Israel in that they believe Jews who do not convert to Christianity when the Christ figure returns will be condemned to hell.

Not quite. Among some Christians, support for Israel is based on the concept that until Israel is restored, Jesus will not return. This has no connection to the doctrine of exclusive salvation.

What was shocking in your studies? The discovery that fallible man often twists and misuses divine teaching?

Qur’an (2:191-193)”And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution [of Muslims] is worse than slaughter [of non-believers]…and fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah.”

Qur’an (4:89)”They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks.”

Yeah, real tolerant Ed…just say what your opinion is on things from now on, would you please. Stop mentioning that you were a college professor or majored in theology or whatever else to try and make people think that you are some kind of expert in what you’re pontificating on, because your track record of fairy tales on this site say otherwise.

I have, and will continue to. I take it you have no response to the “tolerant” religion of Islam’s writings above. Also, I didn’t even begin to describe Islam’s “tolerant” way of dealing with women. Actually, I am the only one who has listed any facts, as your article is completely void of them, choosing instead, to go with vague personal assertions.

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